AFRICAN MUSIC

Listen and identify the characteristics...

And this one….
Main Characteristics of African Music
● Use of percussion - hand drums, shakers, cowbells
● Polyrhythms and cross-rhythms (different time signatures
may be happening at the same time)
● Voices in harmony or unison
● Call and response structure often used
● Rhythmic ostinato and lots of repetition in general
● Melodic instruments used to create melodic ostinati
 What is a cross-rhythm?
In African polyrhythms a complex cross-rhythm can occur where different
parts are counting different beats but at the same tempo. Below is an example
of a polyrhythmic cross-rhythm that you can try with 3 people:
 An enormous variety of instruments can be found in Africa –
usually made by musicians to suit their particular tradition, style
and taste. The materials used depend on what is readily available
in each area. Musicians treat their instruments with great respect
and learning to play is described as ‘teaching the instrument to
speak’. Musicians also do not like to use instruments made in a
different area, no matter how similar they are, as they are said to
speak a different ‘language’.
 The DJEMBE is a popular drum from West Africa which is played by
the hands. It is a goblet-shaped drum made from wood, animal skin
and rope to tune it. The djembe can produce a wide variety of
sounds depending on how it is played, making it a very versatile
drum.

Some African Instruments...

The TALKING DRUM is an hourglass-shaped drum with two heads.
The ropes in the middle can be tightened and relaxed to create
different pitches. Because African languages are tonal (the meaning
of the word depends on the pitch it is spoken with) skilled drummers
can make rhythms that sound like speech to the listeners. This can
be used to convey messages, make protests or praise ancestors!
 The MBIRA or thumb piano consists of metal or bamboo strips
which are flicked by the thumbs. They are usually tuned to the
pentatonic scale and the body can be made of an empty metal
chamber or a gourd to help the sound to resonate.

Some African Instruments...

The African XYLOPHONE or BALAFON

consists of wooden notes resting on gourd
resonators. The keys are often tuned to a
pentatonic scale.
 The KORA is a beautiful African instrument with a resonating
chamber made from a large gourd. A hole is cut to let the
sound out. The 21 strings are plucked by the musician’s
thumbs and forefingers. Koras are often used to accompany
solo singers.

Some African Instruments...

TASK: Now find a recording of each of these instruments and list the
main characteristics of African music heard in each recording
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